New Life Church, Danesford Community Centre, West Rd, Congleton, CW12 4EY

01260 297961

Charges and terms of hire.

£20 per day or part of.

50p per mile.

All fines / fees / damage to the vehicle are the responsibility of the person/organisation hiring the mini bus.

AA Breakdown cover is included as part of the insurance, details of action required can be found on the Insurance and Breakdown Arrangements page within the operation folder held in each of the Mini Buses.

The person/organisation hiring the mini bus will need to provide a driver, age 30 or over, with no more than 3 points on his/her licence.

The person/organisation hiring the mini bus will need to have a connection to The Congleton Partnership (through one of the subgroups)

No provisional booking can be made, as others may want to use the mini bus(es)

The big Soul night is back at Congleton Town Hall – Saturday 20 October 2018. Its yet another special charity based Soul Night to be held at Congleton Town Hall to raise funds for Congleton Community Projects (CCP). The evening will comprise of playing all the best in Motown, 60’s & 70’s Soul and more than a hint of Northern Soul’

The event will be hosted by the now famous ‘DJs Past & Present’ who have been presenting such musical events in the Town Hall and beyond for decades, DJs will include Andy Farron, Richard Wharfe, Steve Walsh and Andy Hulme with special guest DJ’s recently ousted out of retirement for this event:- PJ Mellor & Chris Booth aka Nasher.

We are expecting a crowd of 240 plus with people attending from outside the area not just locally. Tickets are currently available for advanced purchase from The Congleton Tourist Information Centre ( TIC ) at an early bird price of £6 each. Any surplus tickets may be available on the night , on the door, priced at £ 7 each. We cannot guarantee entry on the door if all the tickets are purchased in advance, so we naturally recommend you to get hold of your tickets as soon as possible to save disappointment, as normally these Soul Events at the Town Hall are very, very popular. With each entry ticket purchased you will also receive a FREE ‘Happy Hour’ voucher enabling you to receive 50% off all drinks purchased between 7.30 & 8.30pm within the Town Hall !

As usual we will also be hosting the “50/50” raffle where the winning ticket, takes home half the pot of money raised by ticket sales, each raffle ticket is £1 and you can buy as many as you want to improve your chances of been the lucky winner. The other half of the winning pot goes with the rest of the proceeds of the night to CCP. In past events winners have taken home at least £ 80 or more but this is always dependent on raffle ticket sales. Full terms will be on display at the venue

All monies raised will go towards much needed funds for Congleton Community Projects, CCP, who devise and deliver innovative local community events & Festivals in Congleton and have done so for the last 20 years. They are a ‘not for profit’ organisation with a core of dedicated volunteers. Other CCP activities include arts workshops to involve local families in the Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch-on, Congleton Food and Drink Festival, Congleton Carnival parade and the new Playday. CCP is based in the Electric Picture House, Cross St and they work together on Arts events, and Cheshire Rural Touring Theatre productions. CCP are happy to advice on and help with any project local people might come up with for the town. All events need paying for and this Soul & Motown gig is a joyous way to bring in some much needed funding and for everyone to have some fun at the same time. Please refer to their website for further details – www.congletoncommunityprojects.org

Local groups and organisations are invited to submit a grant application for the second round of funding from the Margaret Williamson’s Fund. The fund was set up in memory of Margaret to support environmental, educational and cultural projects in Congleton.

Margaret was passionate about, and a driving force and inspiration behind, improving the culture and environment of Congleton and it was agreed that setting up a special fund to support suitable projects, would keep that spirit alive. Grants are made available from the funds generated by the capital in the fund. This year the fund is able to support around £5,000 worth of projects and applications need to be submitted by the end of November.

The Trustees of the Fund are now looking to support with grants, projects which meet one or more of the following criteria:

Provide opportunities for people to take part in musical, theatrical, literary, performing art, dance, or other artistic activities.

Provide opportunities for education and awareness of the natural environment, especially amongst young people.

Conserve or improve the natural environment for the benefit of the people in Congleton & District.

Please note: Projects and beneficiaries must fall within Congleton and District defined as CW12 postcode or 01260 STD Code.

If you have a project or an idea that fulfils the criteria and needs some financial help to make a difference to Congleton, then please complete the application form by the 30th November. Applications can be downloaded from the Congleton Partnership website: www.congletonpartnership.co.uk/projects-finance/current-projects or collected from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall.

If you wish to donate funds into the Margaret Williamson Trust this can be done via the Partnership, contact Mike Smith on 01260 270350 ext 7 or email ms@congletontowncouncil.co.uk

The trustees consider the applications early in December and funds will be released early in January.

Notes:

The Margaret Williamson Fund is a ring-fenced endowment fund within Cheshire Community Foundation – CCF (http://www.cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk) with the income being used to fund projects. CCF is a registered charity (Number 1143711) set up to manage funds on behalf of private, company and other benefactors and philanthropists.

The proceeds of the fund are administered by Congleton 4 Congleton – C4C (http://www.c4cfund.com) which is a registered charity (Number 1145563). There is a grants panel made up of Congleton people who look at the applications and decide which should be funded. Cheshire Community Foundation is not responsible in any part for the distribution of these funds including the application assessment or monitoring or impact assessment.

For more information contact Jackie MacArthur, Congleton Town Council on 01260 270350 ext 3

Hummingbird Coaching is starting up an informal, fun, mid-week singing group at St John’s Church Buglawton to take place every two weeks on a Tuesday evening, from 7:30-8:30pm. It’s not like a conventional choir – the aim is to simply come together with others, sing for fun and health, and to sing your favourite songs.

Our first get together would be free, from 7:30 to 8:15pm on Tuesday 11th September, to get to know each other, chat about song ideas and to see if people want to sing in parts like a choir does, for example.

Congleton Sustainability Group meeting took place recently, download full meeting minutes HERE.

Highlights include:

Plastic.

Barry’s paper was circulated to the group.

Barry felt that the main way plastics could be getting into the ocean from UK is by using the wrong recycling bin.

Garden plant pots (black) appear to be a real issue.

ANSA visit is being planned by D.McGifford PA, BF and MG will go on this. BF to put some questions to ANSA prior to the visit.

A paper to be written after the visit with a full report back to CSG.

Bob Edwards offered CTC support to the CSG campaign.

The Old Saw Mill.

Apple Juice and Cider
AJ stocks are very low, will continue selling through summer.
DJ drawing up a plan for a production schedule from early September.
Café
Now meeting its weekly targets.
General
GDPR action now completed.
Michelle is coordinating a membership/renewal drive
Newsletter will be out this week.
GRIPP is about 60% complete for being recognised as a Connected Communities Centre.

Green space / In Bloom – P.Pinto.
In Bloom
NWIB judging day 24th July, OSM included in IYN.
BIB national judging 2nd August.
OSM as IYN this year making 9 IYN in Congleton.
We will need to make further efforts around town on route before 24 July (nwib) and 2 Aug (BIB judges).
Too hot! And too dry!!

Next Meeting:- Note there is no CSG Meeting in August.
Mon 3rd September (Astbury Mere) PA confirm with Matt Axford.

Public Realm – the contract with Pronin is complete – apart from any outstanding snagging business. The Town Council has asked for quotes for two new lamp post heads in Victoria Street. We have yet to have the meeting with Cheshire East Assets about responsibilities going forward – so for now everything is still a Cheshire East Asset. The Town Council will be planting up the big tubs with summer bedding and doing a deep clean.

Makers Market – We have held the first two Makers Markets- both a great success. The stall holders thought Congleton was the most positive first market day that they had ever experienced. Probably thanks to the Food and Drink festival making Congleton really receptive to events! On both days the footfall increased by over 4,000. The feedback from shops has been largely positive – some had better days, some didn’t really see any uplift in their sales, but felt that the town benefited from being busier. Each time there have been some issues to improve on – the team behind the makers market are receptive to working with local people and keen on feedback.

Congleton in Bloom – Lots of In Bloom work is underway – the North West in Bloom judging day will be on the 24th July and the Britain in Bloom judging on the 2nd There is another clean up around the park this weekend from10 – 12. Still lots to do and all help gratefully received!

Group Reports.

Youth Forum – GWilliams

We are now at the delivery stage of the PB grant award project. 3 of the 7 elements have been delivered, with a 4th (40 things to do in Congleton) booklet being completed by J.Money once Food & Drink Fest is out of the way.

Good feedback on some of the sessions.

CSG – P.Aston.

New cycle map- has been produced in partnership with Cycling Group, Sustrans and Local Authorities (Congleton / Staffs) to support the route along Biddulph Valley Way from Congleton to SOT.

Hydro Scheme – CEBC Planning Dept have raised several issues around the planning application. CSG have temporary withdrawn the application for further surveys to be carried out.

Fracking – New planning conditions being brought in to side step local government and allow easier granting of permission nationally. CSG to meet with F.Bruce MP to raise our concerns.

Old Saw Mill – Experienced a real surge in trade following the Royal Visit / PR created, this has now flattened out to pre visit turnover. Apple juice and Cider going well, good sales from Makers Market and Rode Hall events, looking for good day at F&D festival.

D.Topping took us through a statement from the trustees of Congleton Museum document. This explained the reasons given by Cheshire East in rejecting the museums bid for Bradshaw House and their challenges against this decision, the benefits they could offer by moving there, and a call to arms from Congleton residents to support this plan. F.Bruce MP is very supportive and has written to Cheshire East asking them to reconsider their decision.

Bob Edwards indicated that the Town Council were strongly supportive of this project and asked for some extra time to work on this.

The Partnership fully supported both the Town Council and The Museum in pursuing this project and keeping Bradshaw House as a jewel in Congleton’s crown.

Mountview.

MS read out an email from Dan Coyne where he summarised what work had gone on to mitigate the closure of Mountview. He has been discussing the issues with The Town Council, Plus Dane and New Life Church. Working on a business case to put to Cheshire East senior managers by the end of June. He will raise the issue at the next Congleton Neighbourhood Group meeting and the Dementia Friendly Congleton group.

M.Gleave added comments that there were 23 people who had been involved in the consultation, that 2 strong options had come to the forefront, a Venue and Service Provider working jointly.

The consultation also showed a desire for the venue to be in Congleton and to be reasonably consistent (ie not a different one every day).

PB added that Mountview would not be closed until places had been found for all of the clients.

Heritage Trail / Heritage Fortnight.

8th to 23rd September.

This included 2 x Heritage Open Weekends, 40+ events (talks, open days, activities) the lead for this event is Nino Manci.

They are working on putting together a Heritage Tour using QR codes on pavements outside of out more interesting and historic buildings. This should all be in place for the In Bloom Judging as heritage is an important aspect of in bloom too.